"Dollface!"
Dollface found herself on a table under the skylight of the Parts and Service room, dizzy.
"Afton?" Incredulous, Dollface struggled to sit up, her boss's face swimming into her vision. Rosey dawnlight came in through the skylight, bathing everything a shade of pink and gold that made even the cobwebbed suit pieces look beautiful.
"Seems your sleepover got a little wild if you managed to end up here!" Afton beamed, smelling of too much cologne and something she couldn't quite place.
"Man, I had this crazy dream, sir, that th'animatronics were alive an-"
"Shhhhh," William smiled, putting a finger to Dollface's lips.
"Mr. Afton?" She asked, stomach cramping again, "What's goin' on?"
She instinctively crossed her legs as he put his hands on the table, as if to trap her.
"Mr. Afton?" she scooted back on her butt as he leaned closer, confused. HIs bunny costume seemed so out of place and yet so appropriate.
"They're still asleep, don't worry."
"Mr. Afton, what th'hell are ya talkin' 'bout?" Dollface felt her body shake as the edge of the table made itself known.
"Dollface, don't be silly." He laughed, "We've been wanting this since we met!"
"Want what?" Dollface asked, acutely aware of how short her skirt was, barely reaching her mid-thigh.
"You know what." He teased, "And besides, you owe me."
"What could I owe ya?" Dollface said, falling to the floor with a thud. She groaned, trying to get to her feet but he'd already grabbed her jaw, cradling her face in the palm of his hand.
"Everything. I made you, now, pay it forward."
"Mr. Afton, I don't want this. I don't want you!"
His eye twitched, smile dropping. "What did you say to me, little girl?"
Dollface pushed his hand away, managing to stand. "And another thang, I quit!"
She forced her way past him and grabbed the door handle, only to find it locked.
"You want out, sweet cheeks?"
Dollface turned to him, fear across her face.
"Then get on your knees!"
Dollface watched him happily amble over and lean over her, putting an arm over her head.
And then Dollface felt something new, something she hadn't felt that night as she clenched her fists, teeth grinding.
"I'm gonna kill ya."
William's face snapped, no more slick grin, just the real face he hid behind the charming mask that she'd seen slip.
"Yer gonna die!" She said, hands shaking, unable to swallow back the rage. "I'm gonna kill you!"
"You're gonna do what I say, babe'gurl!" William snapped, turning red. The lame purple bow around his costume's neck came closer to her face as he bent, further trapping her.
"I'm gonna fucking kill you, bastard!"
"And I bet you will!" He grabbed her by the shoulders and slammed her against the metal door, planning on restraining her.
"I'm gonna kill you!" She howled in his face.
Annoyed, he pulled his suit head down, staring at her through the bunny's eye sockets.
Dollface slammed her knees to his chest, right in the solar plexus.
With a cough and a gasp, William dropped her and doubled-over.
Panting, Dollface began kicking him, making sure he'd feel it.
"You bitch!" He screamed, "What are ya doin'?!"
She slammed a boot through his face, steel toes cracking through the stuffed muzzle and into his nose, making blood spurt.
"You're gonna kill me! Too much pressure and-"
Dollface stopped him by slamming a foot into his back, right where the main cluster of locks were located.
William screamed as his entire left hand became a symphony of snaps, wiggling all around. He fell on his side, letting her kick again, and he howled louder.
"You're dead meat, SLUT!" He grabbed her ankle, toppling her. Dollface screamed as William climbed on her, forcing her against the tile floor.
Holding her down, William restrained her, left arm dangling from its socket.
Dollface screamed, trying to push him off and find another cluster to hit as he swung at her like Jack and Wendy Torrence.
"I'm gonna teach you a lesson, slut!"
Dollface tried to scoot out from under him, but he was too heavy and he wrenched her face with a hand forcing her to look him in the eyes.
"Look at me, bitch, I made you, I own you, and your little boyfriend can't help you now, so the least you can do is look me in the eyes!"
Dollface was dragged across the floor.
"This place won't do!" William sputtered around a mouthful of blood, "I'll have to find a new place for you to pay! Now, be cooperative and tidy and you'll have a treat!"
"Let go, ya RAT-BASTARD!"
William began laughing, his entire body shaking. With his good arm, he grabbed her collar and scooped her off the floor. "I love it when ya tease!"
He began laughing, almost hysterically, Dollface's legs going limp.
William's blood splattered into Dollface's eyes, making her squeeze them shut.
A crash of glass and a spray of feathers from overhead scattered shards all over her face and pelted the still laughing William's suit.
William's laughter was soon cut short and replaced with hysterical screaming, wet, squishy crunches filling the air.
Eyes still closed, Dollface covered her ears and stumbled to a wall, sliding down it. She rocked herself, every snap causing a brief crescendo of pain. She barely squinted one eye open, watching Michael just stand over the twitching, screaming body of William, covered in arterial spray.
SNAP! SNAP! SNAP!
William screamed Henry's name, cursed out his assailant, and finally, lay twitching on the floor.
After a few moments filled with heavy breathing and a quiet mechanical rumble, long after the final snap, Dollface opened her eyes. She folded her legs, no longer bracing herself.
The first thing she saw was a pair of heavy work boots.
Dollface, it's me, Michael.
Breath shaking, Dollface kept her eyes shut and focused on the familiar shine behind her eyes.
And finally, she opened them.
Michael was kneeling over her in a blank, white mask in the rosy dawn, shattered glass like a halo as he looked down at her.
Six sets of black condor wings surrounded them, then dissipated in the golden light of dawn. "Can I see you?"
Michael bent his head down as Dollface sat up, face hard. He was thinking.
Alright, baby-gurl.
Dollface's fingers worked at the neck of the latex mask and peeled it off, Michael's dark brown hair falling around his face and into his black eyes.
Eyes just like hers.
Blood dribbled from one, an old injury.
She reached for him, wanting to feel.
He flinched away, face flat and emotionless, just like hers.
Then Michael learned into her open palm, letting her know he was there.
I should have done more. I'm sorry.
After feeling his skin, Dollface put her arms around his neck, both soaked in blood, and he let her stay there to catch her breath.
I should have listened more.
Michael let her hold on, a brotherly hand wrapped around her as blood pooled on the tiles.
It's not your fault, Dollface. I didn't think It would get this bad.
Yes it is, I shoulda known!
Michael rocked in place, head on hers, Lay, and put yer weary soul t'rest. I will try t'do m'best to keep the gravity from pulling you t'Earth.
Dollface nuzzled into her strange friend's neck as he shined a song to her.
I'd like t'say it gets more clear when it gets more cloudy every day…
When she finally let go, he carefully placed the golden bear's head over hers as if it were a crown.
But summer's gonna come and burn th'cloudy skies an'all th'doubt away…
He pulled on his mask, and in one move, scooped her up like a doll and stood.
He walked down the empty halls, past stains and curtains, landing in the Prize Room. He set her on the toybox and went to the counter, grabbing the one thousand ticket prize from the top shelf, a giant stuffed golden bear, and handed it to her.
Dollface cradled it, and he led her away by the hand and past a few more rooms. She squeezed his hand as they passed Pirate's Cove, looking away from the concealing curtains.
Michael entered the main party room and stod, Dollface letting go.
The room was trashed, looking as if a tornado had gone through. The small door under the stage was just a pile of splinters and screws, doorway a gaping void. Everything was stained, all the game pieces and cards were scattered, sleeping bags were shredded, and a line of blood led down a hall somewhere. Dollface could see a ratty hunk of blue hair tumbling in the AC.
"Dollface?"
Princess's face emerged from the small doorway under the stage.
"Dollface!" She shouted, "You look insane!"
"Princess!" Dollface wanted to say, but could only mumble, mouth raw, "Where is everyone?" she begged to be able to say.
She could feel her teeth pressed against her cheeks and how raw her gums were.
She could feel something like drool, hot and sticky, flood her mouth, but she could not taste it, or discern what it was.
"Dollface, where were ya last night?" Izzy emerged from one of the halls, giggling, "We couldn't find ya!"
Dollface felt dizzy as she became sick to her stomach.
"We figured ya went t'bed early, so we didn't look fer ya." Wolfie said from behind her, eyes doll-like and glassy, too cheerful to be Wolfie's.
"Yeah, we didn't wanna bother ya." Dolli Mae shrugged, appearing from another darkened corner in the well-lit front showroom. Regina stood beside her, crabby, but in good enough shape.
"Can we go now?" Regina crabbed, "I need a shower."
Regina kicked at a sleeping bag, shedding stuffing.
Dollface stared at it.
"Don't worry, we'll come back later!" Izzy giggled, placing a hand on Dollface's stiff shoulder.
Something was off about everyone's eyes and their general demeanor. It was like everyone had hit a 'Reset' button before waking up.
Dollface, tongue numb, attempted to open her dry mouth, only for a trickle of drool to nearly pass her lips. She covered her stained mouth with a scraped hand, embarrassed and bewildered.
She must not have slept much last night.
Michael prodded her to remember, but what?
The only thing she could see in their shared mind was a pair of glowing eyes, similar to the ones that surrounded hers.
Friends' eyes.
She felt sick, like she was a dead girl walking.
"Dollface! Did'ya stay up all night like Princess said ya would?" Dolli Mae teased, kicking a pillow out of her way with a stumpy leg.
Why was everyone still dressed like they had last night, no PJs' or bathrobes in sight?
Dollface, somethin' ain't right an'ya know it!
Dollface bit her lip, bear squeezed tightly in her stained arms.
"Dollface, what's wit'th'suithead?" Wolfie said, pulling the golden bear's head off of the table Dollface had set it on, "Looks ancient!"
Wolfie sniffed it and LOUDLY gagged at the encrusted fur and vinyl to a chorus of giggles.
Dollface, embarrassed, decidedly grabbed her crown back with one hand, plushie in the other, unable to explain herself.
"C'mon! What happened t'yer sense o'humor?" Wolfie asked, gently taking hold of Dollface's arm to lead her away, "We're takin' ya home, you look awful!"
"Totally!" Izzy piped up, grabbing Dollface's other arm.
Dollface tried to shake them off but couldn't. She backed into a grinning Regina, blue eyes too bright and shiny to be human, bleached teeth too white and square to be even prissy Regina's.
"Come on, sister," Regina leered, unusually chipper and familial, "I'll get you home. You need a nice, long shower."
Dollface's furrowed brow crinkled further, Michael preparing to fight.
Regina grabbed Dollface's hand and led her to the wide open doors outside, "It's a beautiful morning, let's escort our friends home."
Dollface glanced over her shoulder at the sudden strangers, blood running cold.